Drawbar arrangement for selector bar translators



March 19, 1968 H. STAHL ET AL I 3,373,858

DRAWBAR ARRANGEMENT FOR SELECTOR BAR TRANSLATORS Filed March 11, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

INVENTORS #aEsT .5727;

@0004 F @ska w rz B-Y. JJZQMZATTQRNEYs March 19, 1968 Filed March 11, 1966 Fig.3

H. STAHL ET AL 3,373,858

-DRAWBAR ARRANGEMENT FOR SELECTOR BAR TRANSLATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HORST 7 572,4 @0004) Kazan/Hz I March 19, 1968 H. STAHL E L DRAWBAR ARRANGEMENT FOR SELECTOR BAR TRANSLATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1966 /HQJZI INVENTORS Hoe-57' 57 44 fiupou- Fame-WW2 AM ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 19, 1968 5 Claims. 61. 197-17 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE actuating mechanism for selector-bar translators, utilizing a plurality of function-executing members, each of which is operatively coupled to an actuating drawbar, selection of a drawbar being determined by the positions of a plurality of selector bars operatively related thereto, whereby the selected drawbar may drop by movement transverse to its normal operating movement for engagement with an actuating move member movable in actuating direction over a predetermined path, in which means are provided for lifting all non-selected drawbars off of the selector bars, such means being operable during actuating movement of the actuating member and acceleration of the selected drawbar.

THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an arrangement for selectorbar translators, utilizing a plurality of drawbars, each of which is coupled directly or indirectly with a cooperable function-executing member, in which the individual drawbars are free to fall essentially perpendicularly to its operational movement, into aligned recesses in individual selector members or bars, in dependence upon the respective positions of such selector bars, thereby so swinging the selecteddrawbar that a follower or transport projec tion or element thereon is disposed into the path of movement of an actuating or drive member. Such selector bar translators are found as a rule in the receiving apparatus of the type-lever teletype machines. In such receiving translators it is a known practice to so design and arrange the drawbars, which are movable in their longitudinal direction and actuata'ble by a draw member, that the engaging surfaces of drawbars and the draw member, and the direction of their reciprocal movement is such that the draw member simultaneously releases the drawbars to permit them to drop into the recesses of the selector members and subsequently lifts them above the selector member recesses in its return movement into the starting position. A new setting of the selector bars can only be eflfected when the draw member actuating the drawbar, previously selected by the selector bars, has returned to its starting position.

Since in such apparatus the selection and the drawing of a drawbar and thus of the function-executing member, for example a type lever, ordinarily takes place successively in time, there is available for the printing process only a part of a symbol length. In an endeavor to achieve higher and higher operating speeds, as a rule this partial amount of the time span available in a symbol length no longer suffices for a faultless symbol printing, unless a high constructional and material expenditure is utilized in the drive and storage elements.

From these considerations there has become known an arrangement for combination translators with drawbars movable in dependence on the position of selector members, each of which drawbars controls the actuating member allocated to it, for the type-carrier actuation of a receiving teletype translator, in which in each case the drawbar belonging to the received teletype symbol can drop into aligned recesses in the selector members extending perpendicularly thereto and is movable by a draw member in its longitudinal direction. This construction is characterized by the feature that means already effective at or shortly after the start of the actuating motion of the dropped in (selected) draw bar, and influenced by the drive member of the drawbar, are so arranged and designed that during the longitudinal movement of the drawbarthey simultaneously lift it out of the selector member recesses and act in conjunction with means which prevent the drawbar from dropping back until completion of the printing of the type symbol. Through this arrangement the advantage is achieved that during the return movement the setting of the selector bars for the next symbol printing can be accomplished, so that for the movement of the printing member there is available the whole time span which is provided for a symbol. In this arrangement, besides the fact that for the purpose of lifting off the drawbars from the selector bars after termination of the accelerating action of the selected drawbars, an additional rocker member individually driven by a cam is required, the operation is advantageously effected, as only after completion of the accelerating action of the selected drawbar, is initiated the lifting 01f movement of all the drawbars from the selector bars. Consequently, valuable time for the setting of the selector bars is thereby lost.

The invention has as its underlying problem that of providing an arrangement in selector bar translators which has the advantages of the arrangement described in respect to the general manner of functioning, according to which the setting of the selector bars takes place during the printing process, but in which there is also achieved a simple construction and an especially simple arrangement of the individual functional elements. Moreover, in this arrangement care is to be taken that none or only very few masses have to be moved very rapidly.

Such an advantageous arrangement in selector bar translators is characterized according to the invention by the feature that while the drawbar, selected over the selector bars, and with it the allocated function-executing member are accelerated, the other drawbars are lifted off of the selector bars. The construction insures, in a manner of operation not subject to breakdown, that the entire time span required for the accelerating of the selected function-executing member is available for the lifting off of the non-actuated drawbars, so that smaller operating and mass forces become active for the lifting off function and thus the wear on the individual coacting members is considerably reduced.

According to a preferred arrangement embodying the invention, the other drawbars are lifted off of the selector bars during the accelerating action of the drawbar determined by the selection bars by the actuating member over which the one drawbar which was selected by the selector bars is actuated. Such lifting off operation by the actuating member advantageously takes place over angular elements, each arranged on a respective drawbar following the transport element engageable with the actuating member. Special drive means for this purpose thus becomes unnecessary. As. compared to known devices, the arrangement according to the invention is suited for use with type levers arranged in semi-circular form.

According to a further development of the invention, on each of the drawbars there is arranged another angular element by means of which the selected drawbar which has dropped in recesses of the selector bars, following termination of the accelerating action of the function-executing member allocated to such drawbar engages a stop member, whereby the drawbar is swung out of the range of the selector bars. It thereby becomes unnecessary to provide a special drive member for the lifting out operation of the selected drawbar. Further, it is achieved through this arrangement that the drawbar can be accelerated very rapidly, without the impact energy of the type on the recording carrier becoming too great, since at the end of the acceleration through the lift out action of the drawbar from the selector bars, energy is again dissipated.

According to another further development of the invention, such an angular element is arranged on each of the drawbars in front of the follower member operating with the actuating or drive member, as seen in the direction of the working stroke, so that after termination of the accelerating action of the function-executing member allocated to such drawbar, the angular element ongages the drive member which then serves as a stop and is operative to swing the drawbar out of the. range of the selector bars. In this particular arrangement a separate member for the achieving of this operation becomes unnecessary.

Details of the invention will appear from the examples of construction represented in the drawing and hereinafter described.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the arrangement and particular form of a drawbar in the range of an actuating pusher member.

FIG. 3 represents a movement diagram of the actuating pusher member and the drawbar according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a further possibility of construction of the drawbar in the range of the actuating pusher member; and

FIG. 6 represents a movement diagram of the drawbar and the actuating pusher member according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Each drawbar 1, according to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, which is coupled in a possible conventional design over a toothed gear 2 with a corresponding type lever 3, having a type head 4, is supported in its rest position, adjacent the type head 4, on a type lever support 5, and is likewise arranged in a conventional manner in the range of code selector bars 6. Depending on the position of the selector bars 6 one of the drawbars drops into the selector bars 6 and thereby swings a follower projection or abutment 7 thereon into the range of an actuating pusher member 8. The selected drawbar 1 is in each case represented in dot and dash lines.

Carried on each drawbar 1, in the forms of construction according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and also according to FIGS. 4 and 5, is an angularly extending portion 9 which, as viewed in the direction of movement of the working stroke, is disposed following the projection 7. The pusher member 8 interacts over such angular portion 9 with the drawbars 1 in such a way that the drawbars not selected by the selector bars 6 are lifted off of Lhe latter during the actuating stroke of the pusher mem- As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, the free ends of each of the drawbars 1 terminate in an angularly extending element or portion 10, opposite which there is arranged a stop member 11. If the drawbar 1, selected by the selector bars 6, is thrust forward by the pusher memher 8 which engages the projection 7 during the working stroke indicated by the arrow, after termination of the accelerating action requisite for the printing energy of the type lever, the angular portion 10 strikes the stop member 11, whereby the drawbar is swung out of the range of the selector bars 6. Since the other drawbars were previously lifted off of the selector bars 6, following this moment the selector bars 6 are available for a new setting.

In the diagram represented in FIG. 3, there is plotted on the abscissa the time t and the ordinate the stroke s. The continuously solid line illustrates the course of movement of the actuating pusher member 8, while the broken line illustrates the movement of the drawbar.

At time point 21 the drawbar drops into the selector bars 6, thus disposing the projection 7 in the range of the pusher member 8 which is engaged therewith, following which, at time point 22, the pusher member 8 engages the angular portion 9, to lift the other drawbars 1 from the selector bars 6. Up to time point 23, the drawbar 1, selected by the selector bars 6, continues to move until, shortly after this point of time, its angular portion 10 strikes the stop member 11, whereby it is swung out of the range of the selector bars 6. At time point 24, both the drawbar 1 selected by the selector bars 6 and also all other drawbars 1 are completely lifted off of the selector bars 6. The selected drawbar 1 and with it the allocated type lever 3 retain their direction of movement up to the printing moment 25 and thereupon begin their return movement. Between the time points 24 and 26 all drawbars are lifted 06 of the selector bars, so that during this span of time a new setting of the selector bars 6 can be effected. At time point 27 all drawbars 1 are again presented to the selector bars 6, so that one of the drawbars 1 can again be selected by the selector bars 6-, and swung in front of the pusher member 8 for the next function stroke.

The arrangement according to FIGS. 4 and 5 generally corresponds to the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, the difference in this arrangement being merely that in the zone, as viewed in direction of movement of the working stroke, in front of the actuating pusher member 8 there is arranged an angular portion 19 on each of the drawbars 1. Such angular portion 19 corresponds to the angular portion 10- of FIGS. 1 and 2, over which the drawbar 1, selected by the selector bars 6, is lifted up following the accelerating action.

According to the diagram represented in FIG. 6, likewise at time point 21 the drawbar 1 is engaged by the pusher member 8 and accelerated up to the time point 23. The drawbar 1 and with it the type lever 3 continue their motion in free flight up to the printing time point 25. In the meantime at time point 24 the angular portion 19 of the drawbar 1 bears on the back edge 18 of the pusher member 8 delayed in movement, whereby the drawbar 1 is swung out of the range of the selector bars 6. At this point of time there then can take place a new setting of the selector bars 6. The unselected drawbars are lifted off of the selector bars in a manner analogous to those of the first example.

The examples explained represent advantageous arrangements according to the invention. The invention extends, however, beyond these examples, especially insofar as it is a matter of purely constructional modifications.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. In an actuating mechanism for selector-bar translators, the combination of drawbars, each operatively coupled with a corresponding function-executing member, a plurality of selector bars extending parallel to one another and transversely of said drawbars, said selector bars having recesses therein into which a drawbar, selected by relative positioning of said selector bars, may drop by movement transverse to its normal operating movement, an actuating member movable in an actuating direction and a return direction over a predetermined path, each of the respective drawbars having means thereon which, upon selection of such a drawbar, and such dropping movement thereof, is disposed in the path of said actuating member for engagement therewith in an actuating direction for the actuation of such drawbar and function-executing member associated therewith, and means operable during the portion of the working stroke in the actuating direction of said actuating member for lifting all non-selected drawbars off of the selector bars.

2. An actuating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said means for lifting all non-selected drawbars comprises means on the respective drawbars cooperable with and actuated by said actuating member during its working stroke and operative, while the selected drawbar is accelerated, to lift all non-selected drawbars off of the selector bars.

3. An actuating mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the means on said drawbars for lifting all nonselected drawbars comprises an inclined edge on each drawbar disposed in the path of said actuating member whereby the latter is operative during its working stroke to cam the non-selected drawbars upwardly.

4. An actuating mechanism according to claim 1 I wherein each drawbar is provided with an angularly exdrawbar out of the range of the selector bars following termination of the accelerating action of such drawbar.

5. An actuating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each drawbar is provided with an angularly extending portion which is disposed thereon, as seen in the direction of the working stroke, ahead of the means engageable with said actuating member for actuating a selected drawbar, said angularly extending portion being disposed to engage said actuating member, whereby following completion of the accelerating action of the function-executing member allocated to the drawbar involved, such drawbar will be thereby swung out of the range of the selected bars.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1931 Dorsey 19717 7/1943 Zenner 197-17 X 

